During a recent government meeting, city officials outlined a comprehensive plan for infrastructure improvements, focusing on sewer, water, and roadway repairs. The meeting featured key presentations from the Department of Public Works (DPW) and city engineers, detailing a series of authorizations aimed at enhancing the city's horizontal infrastructure.

The DPW reported on its systematic assessment of the city’s infrastructure, which includes over 1,000 roadways, 304 miles of sidewalks, and extensive water and sewer systems. The city has adopted an asset management approach to coordinate maintenance and replacement strategies, ensuring the longevity of its infrastructure. Since 2018, significant progress has been made, with 286 roads reconstructed and 204 water mains replaced.

A major component of the meeting was the request for $24 million in funding for sewer repairs, addressing issues such as cracked pipes and misaligned services across 56 miles of sewer on over 500 roads. This funding will be sourced from the Sewer Enterprise Fund, with an additional $6 million earmarked for a new truck wash and storage facility for sewer vehicles, mandated by environmental regulations.

City engineers also presented a $5.5 million request from the water enterprise fund for maintenance and rehabilitation of two water tanks. This includes necessary structural improvements and painting, which is crucial for maintaining water quality. The tanks have not undergone significant maintenance in over a decade, and the proposed work aims to prevent future issues.

The meeting concluded with an update on ongoing projects, including the completion of over 300 roadways and 100 miles of sidewalks under the current Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Officials expressed optimism that major road construction disruptions would be resolved by the end of next year, as the city continues to enhance its infrastructure in response to community needs.